It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, it's Just Me, Doing Trapeze.

Where do I begin!!

One evening a few years ago (pre-covid), I was in a cab on the Westside Highway and I passed by Pier 40. I remember admiring the cityscape at night, with all of the lights and the bridges as I looked out of the cab window, and I saw the trapeze lessons taking place on the roof of the building. Immediately I thought, “I NEED TO DO THAT!” I scheduled a class, but ended up not being able to make it last minute.

Recently, the thought dawned on me again, so I went back on the website to book a class. $20 more expensive this time around, but whatever- I thought, holy crap I’m going to do trapeze?!?! Yep, I’m gonna trapeze.

Saturday morning, I wake up, get ready, and I’m on my way to the lesson. I get to Pier 40, take the elevator to the roof of the building, and I’m greeted by a bunch of rigging equipment, safety nets, mats.. and this immediately felt REAL lol! With the highway in clear view- full circle- people driving by are going to see me flipping and flying just as I did in the cab a few years ago.

Link to their website here.

There were 3 instructors: Hal, Yiannis, and Catherine, who were sooooo great, so kind, patient, and super experienced, so I felt like I was in good hands. The class itself was small, and though we all had just met for the first time, we supported each other through this crazy lesson we somehow agreed to do first thing on Saturday morning. Some people were confronting their fear of heights, trying something new and adventurous, or forced to try it by their partner lol.

I had the harness belt strapped onto my waist, and my excitement, nerves, anxiety, and a small amount of fear (but the good kind, if that makes sense) hit me all at once as I did my best to listen to the instructions, watch the demonstrations, and then, I was up.

After I dusted my hands with chalk, I clipped the cables onto my belt.

I climbed the ladder to the platform, which seemed endless.

At the platform- HOLY CRAP- I’m really going to do this.

Like, I’m REALLY going to trapeze right now.

Before I knew it, it was time to fly.

“Ready- HEP!” And I jumped off the platform in the sky.

At this moment, it felt as though you’re going downhill on a really high roller coaster, combined with hanging from the monkey bars.

As I flew forward and freaked out in my mind, the instructor on the ground was guiding/reminding me on what to do, and when. As I tried my best to listen, I lifted my legs over the bar, and dropped my hands, to hang upside down. Brought my hands back up, legs back down, and swung my legs back and forth to do the backflip off the swing, to then land in the net. And just like that, I was back on the ground.

Or at least, that’s how it was supposed to go LMAO

I did NOT get this on my first try, but I nailed it all the other chances I had in the duration of the class. Two hours later, I felt totally invigorated; I even did the catch at the end, TWICE.

When the class was done, one of the instructors said to me: “Nice job Mahogany! How do you feel?”

- “Empowered!”

His response: “YESSSSSSSSSSS!”

This lesson was seriously so empowering and so freeing- you get hit with such an adrenaline rush.. I felt as though I could do anything. I kept thinking to myself, “I can’t believe I did that!”

With a huge smile on my face, I walked away from the pier and back towards civilization with a new friend, and we came across…. you guessed it- a FAIR! My favorite :) You can always trust the universe to bring you right where you’re supposed to be, at the perfect time.

I always love to visit these fairs to check out and support artists putting themselves out there, which is something I truly respect. I understand it’s really hard to do, especially if you’re making everything by hand. As I chugged the biggest bottle of water I was able to find, I went from table to table and saw funny signs and a lot of really cool and unique things for sale.

Before I got back home with my goodies, I already started to notice some small bruises on my legs… but SO worth it!!! I felt immensely proud of myself, and that feeling is really hard to put into words. I’m sure the others felt the same way, and had it not been for the instructors’ guidance and patience, and everyone supporting each other, the lesson would have been much more difficult and less enjoyable. Then I got to thinking about support systems in general, and how that can have a different meaning depending on who you ask.

For some, a support system might be their family, or their friends who are like family to them. For others, maybe their support system is themselves. Whoever your support system is, please make sure you tell them you appreciate them, and if it’s you, I hope you show yourself some extra love! We could all use some extra support these days as we take life one day at a time, safety net or not.

As for the trapeze school- I’ll definitely be back.